Want to Make a Garden Bench

I'd like to make a few garden benches for my gardens, but I can't afford $60 or $70 for a mold. What common things might I have that could be used to make the molds for some pretty bench seats and legs? Or is there a cheap mold site that wouldn't cost me a fortune? I do have lumber and could form something up I'm sure, but it would just be plain rectangles.

Also, should I reinforce it with rebar or something?

I think I'd like to bronze or somehow paint a few benches and make them shiny and elegant, maybe even stencil a gold filigree on the seat. (I Have a cricut so I can make my own stencils.) What paint would I use? Do you know of any websites that are helpful?

And how would I seal it to make it waterproof? I certainly don't want it cracking up when we have an ice storm after all the work I'll put into it.

Any other tips would be appreciated!

NancyAnn